MUSICIANS across the city today paid tribute to the general manager of the 02 Academy Liverpool Sam Jones who died at the weekend.

Sam, who previously ran club night Voodoo, was well-known in the city for championing new music.

Dave Pichilingi, Sound City festival director who worked closely with Sam, said: “I am devastated. Sam was a friend and an inspiration. He was a true punk spirit. He was gentle, kind and very funny. Voodoo was the voice of a generation. He was an underground legend. I am proud to have worked with him and even more proud to have seen him as a true friend. Like many others, I will deeply miss him. Liverpool is a poorer place without him.”

Sam managed the 02 Academy, in Hotham Street, and recently took on programming for university music venues Mountford Hall and the Stanley Theatre.

He brought in big names such as Sir Paul McCartney, Snoop Dogg and Liam Gallagher while making sure unsigned bands could play his venues.

Family friend and BBC Radio 2 DJ Janice Long said: “I didn’t ever hear anyone say a bad word about Sam. He was a gentle and kind man who had time for everyone.”

Ian Prowse, singer with Amsterdam, said: “I am numbed by this terrible news. Sam looked after us all. He knew musicians were wayward. But we could go to him for anything. He’d always help. Sitting in his office talking was almost more fun than the gig you’d gone to watch. Goodbye Sam. We will all miss you my friend.”

Pete Wylie said: “Sam was music through and through, from Voodoo to the Academy and beyond. But more than that he was a great family man and a special kind of friend. I will miss him so much.”

A statement from Echo and the Bunnymen’s Ian McCulloch, Will Sergeant, Pete Byrne and Peasy said: “In an industry not renowned for honesty Sam was an honourable man and a wonderful friend. The events we have already planned with Sam will now be a tribute to him - and we know he’ll be there in spirit, to share in those successes with us. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Icicle Works singer Ian McNabb said: “Sam was a good friend, a kind and gentle man, a loving husband and father. He was one of us and I will miss him.”

Sam was previously assistant manager of the 02 Academy and, before that, worked at the Lomax club.

Peter Hooton, singer with the Farm, said: “I am stunned by the news of Sam’s death. I first got to know Sam when he worked at the Lomax. It was clear from the start he was a music fan who wanted to promote music because of his passion for music.

“We played at the O2 in December and Sam was such a great help sorting out the arrangements and the aftershow party. We were due to meet him this week.

“Sam would always go out of his way to help – he was one of the good guys. Quite simply he was one of us and will sadly missed by the Liverpool music scene.”

Sam was working on the Liverpool Irish Festival 2011 as well as Sound City and the UNESCO City of Music bid.

Simon Glinn, executive director at the Philharmonic Hall, paid tribute to his collaborations with other venues.

He said: “He is a great loss to the music community and especially the spirit of partnership in the city’s music scene that has been getting ever stronger in recent years with Sam being a key player in that. Sam used his venue to make things happen for musicians and audiences, supporting good ideas and nurturing new promoters. The sense of shock and loss throughout the music community will be considerable.”